Collections List | Page 8 | Canadian Letters

Sergeant Peter Birnie was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on January 15, 1908, to parents Jane and Noah Birnie.

Birnie had been active in the Militia from 1930 to 1939 with the 48th Highlanders of Canada, and then attested with them in September 1939 as part of the Canadian Active Service Forces. He was sent to England and then was part of the invasion of Sicily with the 48th Highlanders, where he was killed on July 25, 1943.

External links:
Sgt. Peter Birnie’s service record (Serv/Reg# B73375) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format from Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information can be found at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Birnie can be vistited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Gibson, Ralph Milton

Lance Corporal Ralph Milton Gibson was born in Petrolia, Ontario, September 16, 1893 to parents John and Helena Gibson. He enlisted on December 20, 1915 in Montreal, Quebec with the 5th Overseas Universities Company (McGill Co.). Gibson sailed to France on April 1, 1916 aboard the S.S Olympic, arriving in England on April 11, 1916. On June 7, 1916 he was sent to France, where he joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). While serving with the PPCLI Gibson was killed at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917.

External links:
Lance Corporal Ralph Milton's service record (Serv/Reg# 487442) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial Information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Gibson can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Lance Corporal Ralph Milton's Circumstances of Death Register card can be viewed/downloaded through Library and Archives Canada.

Macpherson, John Alexander Clark

John Alexander Clark Macpherson was born in Ottawa, Ontario in July, 1882. Macpherson enlisted in Ottawa, Ontario with the 38th Battalion in January, 1915 and served overseas in France and Bermuda. He was demobilized in 1919 with the rank of Major. The collection currently consists of his photograph album containing more than two hundred photographs.

Wood, William John

William John Wood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in May 1877. He later settled in Midland, Ontario, where he enlisted in February 1916 with the 157th Battalion the Simcoe Foresters. Wood served in England and in France with the 20th Battalion until his demobilization and return to Canada in May 1919. Wood was also a noted painter and friends with the Group of Seven. The collection currently consists of twenty five letters and two postcards.

Cook, Alfred Frank

Alfred Frank Cook was born in Midland, Ontario, in August 1894. Cook was a law student who enlisted in August 1915 in Niagara, Ontario, with the 58th Battalion. He served overseas with the 58th Battalion until 1918 when he transferred to the R.A.F. as a flight cadet. He was found to be medically unfit and was discharged and returned to Canada at the end of the war. The collection currently consists of thirty eight letters.

Swinton, Hugh Alastair

Hugh Alastair Swinton enlisted in the fall of 1939 and joined the 61st Battalion Royal Canadian Artillery. The collection currently consists of more than one hundred eighty letters from 1940 to 1945, plus several photographs.

Townsend, Thomas Franklin

Thomas Franklin Townsend was born in Harrowsmith, Ontario, in February 1889. Townsend enlisted with the No. 9 Field Ambulance in Montreal, Québec, in January 1916. He served overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps until his return to Canada in 1919. The collection currently consists of letters, his diary, and numerous photographs.

Hogarth, John Gordon

John Gordon Hogarth was born in Stephen, Huron County, Ontario in October, 1895. Hogarth enlisted in Exeter, Ontario in September, 1915. He served overseas with the 34th Battalion and the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles until his death on October 1, 1916. Hogarth is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. The collection currently consists of four letters, two photographs, and one card.

Lawson, Alfred

Alfred Lawson, MC, was born in South Shields, England, in December 1880. Sometime prior to the war he immigrated to Canada and enlisted in July 1915 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the 90th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles). Lawson served overseas with the 27th Battalion and was awarded the Military Cross in July 1917. He returned to Canada in May 1919 with demobilization. The collection currently consist of one memoir of the attack on Vimy Ridge. While undated it was written either in 1917 or 1918 given the reference to his use of a camera.

Stewart, Harold Charles Edward

Harold Charles Edward Stewart was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in August, 1920. Stewart enlisted with the RCAF and was killed in a mid-air collision while training near Dunnville, Ontario on January 17, 1944. The collection currently consists of personal correspondence, photographs, telegrams, and clippings.

External links:
Leading Aircraftman Harold Charles Edward Stewart’s service record (Serv/Reg# R210519) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Stewart can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Bridges, Jeannette Drysdale

Jeannette "Nettie" Drysdale Bridges was born in August 1889 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Drysdale served as a V.A.D. in England during 1918 and into 1919. The collection currently consists of more than thirty letters and an extensive photograph album.

Haddow, George Caldwell

George Caldwell Haddow was born in Milton, Ontario in August, 1894. Haddow enlisted in March, 1916 in Toronto, Ontario with the 4th Divisional Cyclists and served overseas with the 3rd Machine Gun Company. He was demobilized and returned to Canada in 1919. The collection currently consists of more than fifty letters.

Jones, William Pearce

William Pearce Jones was born in North Wales in September 1896. Prior to the war he immigrated with his family to Comox, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and enlisted in Victoria, British Columbia, in September 1915 with the 67th Battalion. Jones served overseas with the 102nd and 29th Battalions until he was killed in action April 15, 1918. The collection currently consists of more than twenty letters and several photographs. He was the son of John Jones, who also served.

Hogarth, Lucien Victor

Lucien Victor Hogarth was born in April, 1898 in Stephen Township, Ontario. Hogarth enlisted in May, 1916 in Exeter, Ontario with the 161st Huron Battalion. He served overseas in France with the 47th Battalion until he was demobilized and returned to Canada in 1919. The collection currrently consists of four letters, Christmas cards, and numerous photographs

Evans, Stanley William

Stanley William Evans was born in Calgary, Alberta in April, 1923. Evans enlisted in Calgary in September, 1941 and served overseas in Britain and Europe before he was demobilized in October, 1945. The collection consists of more that forty letters and several other items.

Jones, John

John Jones was born in North Wales in February 1873. Prior to the war he immigrated to Canada and settled in Vancouver, British Columbia. Jones enlisted in Victoria, British Columbia, in May 1916 with the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He served overseas with the 5th Battalion, was wounded in 1917, invalided back to Canada, and discharged as medically unfit in 1918. The collection currently consists of four letters. He was the father of William Jones (below) who was killed in 1918,

Jowsey, John

John Jowsey was born in Yorkshire, England in August, 1897, and settled in Monte Creek, British Columbia prior to the war. Jowsey enlisted with the 172nd Battalion in January 1916 in Kamloops, British Columbia. He served overseas in France for more than seven months until it was discovered that he had enlisted underage. Jowsey was returned to Canada and discharged in October 1917. Jowsey had given his birth date as August 18, 1900, so in fact enlisting when he was still only 15. The collection currently consists of four letters.

Davis, George Ansley

George Ansley Davis was born in Stoney Creek, Ontario, in November 1893. He enlisted in December 1915, and served overseas with the 54th Battalion until he was demobilized and returned to Canada in the spring of 1919. The collection currently consists of six letters and one field service card.

West, Alfred Henry

Alfred Henry West was born in Muskoka District, Ontario, in May 1889. West enlisted with his brother Charles on January 18, 1916 in Victoria, British Columbia, with the 103rd Battalion. He served overseas with the 54th Battalion. West was wounded in July 1917 and was discharged as medically unfit in 1918. The collection currently consists of five letters.

West, Charles Edgar

Charles Edgar West was born in Muskoka District, Ontario, in July 1891. West enlisted with his brother Alfred on January 18, 1916, in Victoria, British Columbia, with the 103rd Battalion. He served overseas with the 54th Battalion until he was demobilized and returned to Canada in 1919. The collection currently consists of three letters.

Hollett, William Lloyd

William Lloyd Hollett was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia in September, 1913. He served overseas with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, R.C.I.C. until his death on October 26, 1944, age 33. The collection currently consists of more than forty letters.

External links:
Private William Lloyd Hollett’s service record (Serv/Reg# F11177) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Hollett can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Evans, Charles Dawson

Charles Evans was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in May 1895 and attested at Valcartier, Québec, in September 1914. Evans sailed with the First Contingent in October 1914 and served with the 8th Battalion. He was killed in the Second Battle of Ypres on April 24, 1915, and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. The collection currently consists of eight letters and several personal items.

Hutchinson, John Goldthorp

John Goldthorp Hutchinson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in January, 1890. Hutchinson enlisted in September, 1914 and was part of the First Contingent to France, where he served with the 8th Battalion. He was wounded in April, 1915 at the second battle of Yprres. Hutchinson was killed on June 14, 1916. The collection currently consists of two letters to the mother of Charlie Evans whom he served with and went missing April 24, 1915.

Stewart, Thomas Otto

Thomas Otto Stewart was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in December 1888. He later moved to Fort William, Ontario, where he enlisted in October 1914 with the 68th Battalion. Stewart served overseas with the 68th until he was killed June 6, 1916. The collection currently consists of one letter to his friend Harry Evans whose brother, Charlie, had been missing since April, 1915.

Woodruff, Nelson Zelotist

Nelson Zelotist Woodruff was born in Elmvale, Ontario, in October 1894 and enlisted in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in July 1915 with the 68th Battalion. Woodruff served overseas with the 2nd Tramway Company until he was demobilized and returned to Canada in 1919. The collection currently consists of one letter.

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